The former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to contest the 2019 Presidency on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP has accused the PDP of Zoning Political offices within its Party.
Taking to twitter to vent his frustration as well as to announce his submission of the SDP presidential nomination form at the secretariat of the Party in Abuja, Donald Duke said he made the deceision to quit the PDP and contest on the platform of the SDP after deep reflection and an objective assessment of the Nigeria political situation.
He also condemned the actions of Nigerian Political Parties who always insist on zoning of Political offices calling it an unconstitutional act.
Donald Duke also disagreed with the general perception that only two political parties had the nationwide structures required to win presidential elections in the country. He further opined that he wished his participation in the 2019 elections exercise will enrich the political playing field and give Nigerians more options to choose from other than APC and PDP.
Read excerpts from his tweets below;
“Earlier this week, I made known my intention to join and run for the office of President on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This afternoon I submitted my nomination forms to the party secretariat.”
“This decision was arrived at after deep reflection and candid assessment of our polity. Firstly, my erstwhile party, the PDP has unconstitutionally zoned political offices.
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“As rational as they may see it, it remains unconstitutional and there are not enough strong voices out there speaking up objectively. Besides, democracy is all about choice, how then do we limit the choices we have to some section of the country or the other?”
“Can we under such aegis obtain the best? Nigeria can only be whole when the sum total of its parts are able to contest freely and at will for the highest office in the land.”
“Some folks have espoused that only two parties have the physical presence nationwide to win the presidency in a general election. I disagree. Our fate as Nigerians should not be determined by two underperforming platforms, but rather by we ourselves.”
“By joining the race on the platform of the SDP, I hope my participation enriches the playing field and offers Nigerians a wider berth of options other than a zero some playing field of either the APC or the PDP.”